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Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas

Introduction

Gloria tibi Trinitas is deservedly the best-known of Taverner’s three large-scale festal masses and took pride of place as the first item to be copied into the so-called Forrest-Heyther part-books, thought to have been compiled for use at Cardinal College during Taverner’s tenure of office. Its title is derived from the plainchant cantus firmus ‘Gloria tibi Trinitas’, one of the antiphons for Trinity Sunday and doubly appropriate in view of the College’s dedication to the Trinity. Scored for six-part choir with the high trebles so characteristic of English music of this period, the Mass is a masterpiece of finely balanced construction. Its cantus firmus, assigned to the mean part, is stated three times in each movement, in progressive rhythmic diminution. (The one exception to this pattern occurs in the Agnus Dei, where the expected second statement of the chant is omitted in favour of a freely composed passage of poignant serenity.) As was customary in English festal masses of this period, the Kyrie was not set to polyphony because it would have been sung to troped chant. The four constituent movements, broadly similar in length and outline, are linked by a common head motif. Within each one, variety of texture is brought about through the contrast between sonorous passages for full choir (invariably incorporating cantus firmus) and more delicately scored verses, often more imitative in conception.

The unusual grace that characterizes the section of the Benedictus beginning at ‘In nomine Domini’ was evidently recognized by contemporary musicians, several of whom included it in their anthologies of favourite extracts. Not only was it arranged for a variety of vocal and instrumental ensembles, but it also provided the inspiration for a new genre of major importance. Known as the ‘In nomine’, this instrumental form was distinguished by its cantus firmus, the ‘Gloria tibi Trinitas’ plainchant, and it was widely cultivated by English composers up to the end of the seventeenth century.

Recordings

The classic 1984 recording of John Taverner's Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas, 'Leroy' Kyrie and Dum transisset Sabbatum was made in Merton College Chapel, Oxford, and is combined here with the 1993 recording of his Western Wind Mass that was made in S ...» More

'An issue of the first importance. It unquestionably merits a place in every serious record collection' (Gramophone)'These reissues epitomise the qualities that make The Sixteen one of Britain's outstanding choral groups: distilled purity of sound: impeccable ensemb ...» More

"I chose to celebrate our 40th anniversary with Taverner’s because I believe it to be one of the greatest compositions ever to have been written in England—a perfect ambassador for the repertoire we have made our own. It is also spectacularly diff ...» More

When The Sixteen embarked upon their recording career back in 1982, few would have been able to predict quite how far they would go towards rehabilitating the little-known music of these four master composers of the 16th century. In this their 30t ...» More

Sacred Music from the Renaissance Era for Celestial and Secular Radio. When Peter Phillips founded The Tallis Scholars in 1973 sacred vocal music from the Renaissance Era was seldom heard on radio. Now it is firmly established as one of the great ...» More

Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to men of goodwill.
We praise you. We bless you.
We worship you. We glorify you.
We give thanks to you
for your great glory.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God the Father,
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.

You take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
You take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you only are holy.
You only are the Lord.
You only are the most high, Jesus Christ.

Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to men of goodwill.
We praise you. We bless you.
We adore you. We glorify you.
We give thanks to you for your great glory.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God the Father.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
You take away the sins of the world;
have mercy on us.
You take away the sins of the world;
receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of the Father;
have mercy on us.
For you alone are holy.
You alone are the Lord.
You alone are the most high, Jesus Christ.
With the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Glory to you, O equal Trinity, single Godhead,
before all ages, now, and for ever.

Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to men of good will.
We praise you. We bless you.
We adore you. We glorify you.
We give you thanks for your great glory.
Lord God, king of heaven, God the Father almighty,
Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
Lord God, lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
you who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.
For you only are holy. You only are Lord.
You only are most high, Jesus Christ.
With the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

I believe in one God,
the almighty Father,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only begotten Son of God.
Eternally begotten of the Father.
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God.
Begotten not made,
of one being with the Father:
through him all things were made.
For us men
and for our salvation,
he came down from heaven.

By the power of the Holy Spirit he became
incarnate of the virgin Mary:
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified:
under Pontius Pilate
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the scriptures.
He ascended into heaven:
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
And he shall come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead:
and his kingdom shall have no end.

And I look for the resurrection of the dead.
And the life of the world to come. Amen.

I believe in one God,
the Father, the almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.
And in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only begotten Son of God.
Eternally begotten of the Father.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God.
Begotten, not made;
of one being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men,
and for our salvation,
he came down from heaven.
By the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate of the Virgin Mary
and was made man. For our sake
he was crucified: under Pontius Pilate
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He shall come again in glory to judge
the living and the dead,
and his kingdom shall have no end.
And I look for the resurrection of the dead.
And the life of the world to come. Amen.

I believe in one God,
Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all visible and invisible things.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten son of God,
born of the Father before all ages,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father,
by whom all things were made.
Who for us men, and for our salvation,
came down from heaven.
And was incarnate by the Holy Spirit through the virgin Mary,
and was made man.
He was also crucified for us under Pontius Pilate,
he died and was buried.
And on the third day he rose again according to the scriptures.
And ascended into heaven:
he sits at the right hand of the Father.
And he will come again with glory to judge
the living and the dead:
there will be no end to his kingdom.
And I await the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

When Taverner wrote his mass Gloria tibi Trinitas, probably in the 1520s, he could have had no idea that part of it would one day turn viral. Its Benedictus – and specifically the section to the words ‘in nomine Domini’ – later served as a model for countless pieces by composers from Tallis, Byrd and Gibbons up to Henry Purcell. These works, known as ‘In nomines’, are meant for viols; but they can all claim descent from John Taverner’s church music.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins
of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins
of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins
of the world, grant us peace.

Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world; grant us peace.

Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you who take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.